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Momodou
Denmark
11818 Posts |
 Posted - 04 Sep 2006 : 23:08:04
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“TRADE UNIONS AND POLITICS”
BY PA MODOU K.B. FAAL EXECUTIVE SECRETARY GENERAL GWC
Trade Unions and Politics as foreseen by The Gambia Workers Confederation
What is the appropriate political role of TRADE UNIONS in promoting Democracy and in achieving Social Transformation along Democratic lines?
What I wish to contribute here is the thinking of the Democratic Organization of African Workers Trade Union (DOAWTU) as a Region of The World Confederation of Labor of which The Gambia Workers’ Confederation is an affiliate, and along these lines in order to help illuminate their way in Gambia’s quest for appropriate solutions.
Perhaps the uniqueness of The GWC/DOAWTU as a Trade Union Organization rests not only in its character as a Mass and Democratic Workers’ Organization, but more so in its assertions of Trade Union Independence and Autonomy and its practice of Workers’ solidarity as the basis for its-self-determined mission to help Transform Gambian-African Society into a Democratic and Progressive one.
As we continue to mould our Trade Union Character and carry out our mission in society, we in the GWC/DOAWTU are at the same time engaged in the process of Transforming ourselves in a Trade Union-Social Movement: a Trade Union Movement moving beyond the narrow confines of Collective-Bargaining:
A Trade Union Movement linked in solidarity with other sectors and groups, entering into a dialogue with them in the search for concrete solutions to common day-to-day problems; a Trade Union Movement whose every day actions add to the building blocks of a continuing Social Transformation towards a Democratic Society of Peace, Justice, Progress and Prosperity.
Our actions to transform ourselves as a Trade Union Movement require our Political Involvement in struggles to widen Democratic Space in our Nations and Continent as much as these struggles are premised on our Mission to build a better society for ourselves. For indeed, the process of our own Trade Union renewal and our Commitment to Social Transformation require crystallizing the Political dimensions of our Role as a Trade Union Social Movement.
In fact, the GWC/DOAWTU has defined its political Role. Our “Declaration of Organizational WILL and INTENT,” laid down these Roles as:
- CRITIQUE of the concepts, values and principles that Rationalize and define Policy at all levels
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- CREATOR and PROPONENT of policy alternatives and options more Expressive of Human Dignity and Freedom
- ORGANIZER of a countervailing force to balance the mal-distribution of Power at various levels
- EDUCATOR of Workers in their Civic, Political, Trade Union and Human Rights
- DEFENDER AND INVIGILATOR of Human Rights, of a free and Independent Unionism, and of International covenants, Standards and other such instruments that Protect Workers “DIGNITY AND FREEDOM”
We neither claim that these roles are so all encompassing that these need no other refinement nor that we have become so dogmatic that we do not admit to contrary views.
The validity of our Policies in Labor Movement not exempting those that delimit the political dimensions of our Trade Union Movement, must be continually tested and assessed at national and regional levels, and correspondingly adjusted to extent realities and the requirements of our actions.
It is why the standard reflections of our political role in our own National context is as necessary as ever.
THE EXPERIENCES and reflections of our affiliates in other countries on the same theme may also shed light to the current discussions in The Gambia, Interesting debate have issued on those Resolutions;
Whether or not Trade Unions should out rightly and Openly Support a POLITICAL PARTY or a COALITION OF PARTIES Vying for State Power, especially so, if the platform of that Party or Coalition is similar to that of the Trade Union.
- Whether or not Trade Unions should form their own political party and through that Party ascend to Government Power and from that Vantage point implement their own programme and Vision of Society.
- Whether or not prominent Leaders of Trade Unions should aspire for Elective National Office, Either on their own or involving their Trade Unions in supporting their candidacies.
We must say, at the outset that the debate is still on going and to date, our impression is that the issues — and there are many as they are complicated — have not yet been laid to rest.
Neither is the debate merely academic. The issues are constantly debated upon by active and militant Trade Unions who have taken sides as well as those still determining their proper and appropriate Political roles, and between both.
We THINK that one must go through the same process, a process of reflecting while in the thick of the Fight, making our Reflections guide ones actions and analyzing the results of ones actions in-order to refine ones’ reflections.
And in so doing, one must consider some fundamental principle whose validity have repeatedly been tested and found effective.
The PRIME of these PRINCIPLES is TRADE UNION INDEPENDENCE AND AUTONOMY. Unions are, by nature, political organisations. They contest for power at the same time that they serve to check and balance other power centres and forces in society. Their primary purpose is to defend and promote the social and economic Interest of Workers in Society. Their everyday function, however, over laps with the political field, as the full realization of the Unions’ aim and purpose depends to a great extent on their political arrangement of society.
The Vocation of unions is not to ascend to government; this is properly the function of political parties.
The principles of Trade Union Independence and Autonomy assert that under any political arrangement it must be possible that Unions may choose to support political parties and their programmes or government and its policies or to withdraw their support when they think it is no longer in their interest to do so.
The principles have been tested by time. In many circumstances especially in developing countries where democratic tradition has not yet taken root and democratic institution have not been fully developed, the Partisan involvement of unions, especially, in political combat has often led to the subversion of their Independence and autonomy, converting them into Labour arms of political parties or transmission belts of government politics.
Further, the precepts of Democracy, particularly those referring to the rule of the majority, governance by persuasion and deliberation, checks and balances, require the existence of independent competing and several power centres in order for Democracy to be effectively exercised and for it to become dynamic.
Unions are one of the independent power centres which must check and balance other power centres so that Democracy will work in the interest of all, if their independence and autonomy are hobbled by Law or by their own actions, they will be less effective in promoting and defending Democracy, under which Environment they drive their strength, sustenance and growth.
A SECOND FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLE IS SOLIDARITY
The building of a better society calls for concerted effort of all peoples and of all Social Sectors to bring this about.
Isolated from other Sectors, Union have the tendency to, and infact they often, become, Sectional in their demands and actions. They defend and promote their vested interest exclusively and apart from other Sectors.
This kind of Unionism promotes divergence rather than Convergence, polarization and Fragmentation rather than Unity; Conflict rather than Cooperation; all of which contribute to the disintegration of the social fabric.
One example should suffice to illustrate this point:
WAGES. Traditional trade Unions consider increased wages as the panacea for all workers’ ills.
The reality of Social life is, however, more complex such that the level of wages is determined by, as well as having its impact on, IN VESTMENT, EMPLOYMENT, INFLATION, FOREIGH INDEBTEDNESS, BUDGET DEFICITS, and a host of other macro-economic valuables. The level of wages cannot be resolved apart from these other considerations, and thus the need for inter-sectorial dialogue and compromises.
While Trade Union Independence is a right, its corresponding responsibility is solidarity. We have affirmed in our documents that solidarity is “SHARING what one is and what one has”. Let us live by this affirmation, we can do no less.
The concept and practice of SOLIDARITY is especially effective in empowering the marginalized sectors of society.
It is proving to be an ever better alternative to partisan political combat which often has destructive and dimisive results, in that a solidarity that empowers the marginalized, can become the very basis of social cooperation in later efforts to reconstruct Society or attain more progress and prosperity.
THESE TWO PRINCIPLES have been the basis for our Trade Union Action since our birth.
Our concept of Trade Unionism has in fact been refined by our practice of Independence, Autonomy and Solidarity. In the process it has happened, that the more we assert these principles, the more we realize the need for widening the political dimensions of our Trade Union Action.
In the course of our history, we have turned away from acting as a reactive Trade Union to a more purposive one.
Not only are we engaged in the struggle to defend and promote our own interest in society. We are likewise preparing and have in fact begun to convert ourselves as a Trade Union — Social Movement with a mission to transform our societies into better places to live in for ourselves, for our families and for other peoples as well.
FOR IN THE FINAL ANALYSIS, as we enter into dialogue with other sectors and with fellow workers of variant persuasions, we must continue to develop, refine and advocate our own Political, Economic, Social, and Trade Union Agenda, on which basis we will cooperate with others to recast society in the mould of our common dreams and aspirations.
This is what we mean when we assert our independence and autonomy and act in solidarity with other sectors of society who are in the same situation as we are.
Source: Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issue
Issue No. 73/2006, 4-5 September, 2006
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